KANGAR, 16 February - Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) in collaboration with Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) negeri Perlis today organized the ASIAN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SEMINAR with the topic Impact And Prospect Of Sustainable Transportation And Logistics 2017. The event, held at the Seri Malaysia Hotel, Kangar, was graced by The Honorable Menteri Besar of Perlis, Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Azlan Bin Man and the top management of MARA and UniKL. The seminar also drew participants from key industry players, related governing bodies and education institutes around the Northern Region.

Participants and guest of honour in a commemorative picture

The seminar is a platform to bring together the state government, relevant authorities, industry players and practitioners of the logistics and transportation industry in Malaysia, Southern Thailand and North Sumatera under one roof. The seminar will also spearhead the development of Perlis to be a key player in the area of Transportation and Logistics in the Northern Corridor Economic Region. Perlis is able to offer opportunities and capabilities across the value chain in the logistics and transportation area which is identified as one of important sectors in The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) initiative.

One of the initiative under the NCIA is the establishment of the UniKL ASIA SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION CENTRE (ASTI), led by Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Spanish Institute (UniKL MSI). The facility will act as the regional professional consultancy and training center offering Profesional Certificates, Diploma, Bachelors, Masters and PhD programmes in the areas of Transportation and Logistics, Halal Business, Business Management, Information Technology and Language in Chuping Valley, Perlis.

UniKL's President and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dato' Dr Mazliham Mohd Su'ud in his welcoming speech said, "UniKL's present in this seminar is also a proof of our commitment to participate and support the aspiration to develop a sustainable logistics and transportation industries in this region. We strongly believe that this can only be achieved through close collaboration between the academia, governments and the industry players.

The establishment of the ASIA Sustainable Transportation Center (AST) in Perlis is to produce competent talent needed by the logistics and transportation industries in this region. UniKL through AST will always support the development programme by providing necessary experts and consultant to ensure the success of the project."

Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Azlan Bin Man in his address to the participants of the seminar said, "Creating a robust economic region in NCER can be accelerated by creating world class transportation and logistics solutions. The development of AST supports the key industries in Northern Corridor Economic Region especially in enhancing and broadening the skills base of the region's human capital. The state government wishes to thank UniKL and MARA and hope that this development programmes will enable us to build quality human capital to fulfil the need of industry nationally and globally."